Apparatus for sharpening/bevelling of ski or snowboard edges

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the sharpening and/or bevelling of either a ski or a snowboard side edge or base edge ( 12 ). The apparatus comprises a guide ( 10 ) adapted to be held by the hand and moved lengthwise along an edge portion of a ski or snowboard while in contact with a surface thereof. The guide includes element for securing a file or the like ( 16 ) thereto at any one of a plurality of desired angular positions relative to the lengthwise direction of movement of the guide during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for the sharpening and/or bevellingof a ski or snowboard edges.

Until recently, ski designs have had a conventional side-cut (a turningradius of between 30 and 40 meters). With the recent increase inpopularity of “shaped” or “super side-cut” skis, side cut has becomemore pronounced whereby a ski is more narrow in the waist than it is inthe shovel and the tail, making it easier to carve a turn (a turningradius of between 10.5 and 30 meters). This is relevant as up untilrecently it has been possible to sharpen and bevel the side edge of aski with conventional side-cut by positioning a file lengthwise on aguide to sharpen and bevel the side edge. This is not the best positionto place the file however, as with even a small amount of side-cut, theteeth of the file only contact the edge at two places along the lengthof the file (front and back). This is even more pronounced with shapedskis, making the sharpening/bevelling job difficult and inefficient atbest. Ski and snowboard camber is also a factor. U.S. Pat. 4,030,382 toNilsson et al shows an attempt to compensate for this by using aclamping screw to bend a file blade between two support ribs.

A further factor is that the inherent angle of the teeth on commerciallyavailable files when positioned lengthwise on the metal edge does notproduce the best cut when the file is pulled along the length of theedge. For example, the standard angle of teeth for a lathe cut file is48 degrees. It is when the file is rotated somewhat so that the angle ofthe teeth is effectively 60 degrees or more that a better and moreefficient cut is achieved (the file teeth are better oriented inrelation to the direction of the cut along the edge).

Another consideration is that of providing the required bevel angle onthe side edge or base edge. Leitinger (DE 3233682 A1) employs aneccentric disc system to achieve a selected edge bevel angle, whichprior art system includes moving parts and general wear and tear cancause the angle to vary in an undesirable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the main object of this invention to provide a ski/snowboard edgedressing system that alleviates problems inherent in prior art systemsand that is simple, inexpensive, portable and easy to use whileminimizing the fatigue and effort required to perform accurate andconsistent edge sharpening/bevelling especially on “shaped” or “superside-cut” equipment as described above.

Accordingly the invention in one aspect provides: apparatus for thesharpening and/or bevelling of either a ski or a snowboard side edge orbase edge, said apparatus comprising a guide adapted to be held by thehand and moved lengthwise along an edge portion of a ski or snowboardwhile in contact with a surface thereof, said guide including means forsecuring a file or the like thereto at any one of a plurality of desiredangular positions relative to the lengthwise direction of movement ofthe guide during use such that a desired portion of the file length maymake contact with the edge portion of the ski or snowboard and/or theteeth on the file may be oriented at a desired angle to the lengthwisedirection of movement thus assisting in producing a consistent file cutand efficient edge sharpening or bevelling edges of the ski orsnowboard.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention said means forsecuring comprises means for clamping said file or the like in saidguide in any one of the desired angular positions.

As a further preferred feature of the invention said guide includesmeans to angularly orient the file or the like in a plane transverse tosaid lengthwise direction when positioned at a side edge portion of aski or snowboard to establish a desired side edge geometry or bevelangle.

Preferably said means to angularly orient said file or the like includesplural elements of selected dimensions positionable in a selected mannerin said guide to engage a surface of the ski or snowboard and toestablish a selected angular orientation of said guide and the file orthe like secured therein in said transverse plane relative to the ski orsnowboard.

In accordance with a still further preferred feature of the inventionsaid guide includes a slot-like passage therethrough for receiving saidfile or the like and said means for clamping comprising a clamp plateadapted to cooperate with a wall of said passage to secure the file orthe like therein.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said guide defines a pair ofsaid passages generally at right angles to one another, each saidpassage having one said clamp plate respectively associated therewith.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided:apparatus for the sharpening and/or bevelling of either a ski or asnowboard side edge or base edge, said apparatus comprising a guideadapted to be held by the hand and moved lengthwise along an edgeportion of a ski or snowboard while in contact with a surface thereof,said guide including means for securing a file or the like thereto suchthat in use a desired portion of the file may make contact with the edgeportion of the ski or snowboard thus effecting edge sharpening orbevelling, said guide including means to angularly orient the file orthe like in a plane transverse to said lengthwise direction whenpositioned at the side or base edge portion of the ski or snowboard toestablish a desired edge geometry or bevel angle.

In a preferred form of the further aspect of the invention said means toangularly orient said file or the like includes plural elements ofselected dimensions (e.g. pegs) positionable in a selected manner insaid guide to engage a surface of the ski or snowboard and to establisha selected angular orientation of said guide and the file or the likesecured therein in said transverse plane relative to the ski orsnowboard.

In a preferred embodiment of the further aspect of the invention saidguide includes means for clamping said file or the like in said guide inany one of a plurality of desired angular positions relative to thelengthwise direction of movement of the guide during use so that adesired portion of the file length may make contact with the edge topromote efficient edge sharpening and bevelling. In this further aspectsaid guide preferably includes a slot-like passage therethrough forreceiving said file or the like and said means for clamping comprising aclamp plate adapted to cooperate with a wall of said passage to securethe file or the like therein.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become morereadily apparent from the following description of a preferredembodiment of same:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus being used for the sharpeningand/or bevelling of either a ski or a snowboard edge in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the invention, said view being from above andlooking generally toward one side of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the apparatus as seen from aboveand looking generally toward the opposing side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the apparatus, the opposing end beinga mirror image thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken along the line 6—6 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevation views of that side of the apparatuswhich is opposite to the side shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a section view taken alone section line 9—9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a further end elevation view of the appararus showing thesame in position for the dressing or preparation of the base edge of theski or snowboard;

FIG. 11 is a further perspective view of the apparatus furtherillustrating metal base edge dressing operations as in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a further perspective view of the apparatus showing the samepositioned for the sharpening and/or bevelling of a side edge of a skior snowboard;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view of the apparatus positioned for thesame purposes as indicated for FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are side elevational views similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 butillustrating the selective positioning of pegs of selected dimensionsthereby to establish a selected angular orientation of the guide andfile secured therein whereby to establish a desired base edge and sideedge bevel angles respectively;

FIG. 16 is a view of the several pegs used to achieve the desired edgebevel angle, showing the variation in length from minimum to maximum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings there is shown at FIG. 1 an apparatus forthe sharpening and/or bevelling of either a ski or a snowboard side edgeor base edge. The apparatus comprises a guide 10 adapted to be held bythe hand and moved lengthwise along a metal edge portion 12 of a ski orsnowboard 14 while in contact with a surface thereof. The guide 10includes means (to be described hereafter) for securing a file 16 or thelike thereto at any one of a plurality of desired angular positions (seearrows A) relative to the lengthwise direction of movement of the guide10 during use. Thus, a desired portion of the file length may makecontact with the metal edge portion 12 of the ski or snowboard 14 and/orthe teeth on the file 16 may be oriented at any desired angle to thelengthwise direction of movement. This assists the operator in producinga consistent file cut and efficient edge sharpening or bevellingregardless of the degree of camber shaping or side cut of the ski orsnowboard. The means for securing comprises suitable means for clampingthe file or the like in the guide 10 in any one of the desired angularpositions. Additionally, the guide 10 includes special means toangularly orient the file 16 or the like in a plane transverse to saidlengthwise direction when positioned at the side edge portion 12 of theski or snowboard to establish a desired side edge geometry or bevelangle. All of the above features will now be described in some detail.

The expression “file” includes a variety of cutting/polishing implementswhich can be clamped in the guide 10 including rough (panzer) files,smooth (mill) files, x-course, coarse, fine and extra fine diamondwhetstones, deburring stones etc. as well as combination of cuttingand/or polishing implements (i.e. a segment of file for cutting the edgewhile a segment of whetstone polishes the edge simultaneously). Thisallows the file guide 10 to be used for a variety of operationsincluding honing, deburring and polishing as well as rough and smoothfiling.

The guide 10 comprises a body or housing 20, the rear and top faces 22,24 of which are smoothly contoured to facilitate the gripping of thetool by the user and to provide an attractive appearance. As best seenin FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower part of frontal face 26 of the housing 20 isrecessed or stepped inwardly with the recess 28 being of invertedL-shape and being defined in part by a flat face plate 30 and a furtherwall 31 at right angles thereto. The upper portion of housing 20 isprovided with an elongated vertical slot 32 which is generally coplanarwith the face plate 30. A horizontal slot 34 also extends throughhousing 20, the upper wall of the slot being defined by the further wall31. Slots 32 and 34 are thus at right angles to one another and theirpurpose is to receive one or more files 16 in the course of base edge orside edge preparation as described hereafter.

The slot 32 is provided with an elongated clamp plate 36 which isco-extensive with slot 32. Coil springs 38 (FIG. 9) at opposing ends ofthe pate 36 bias the clamp plate toward the end of a clamp screw 40threaded into the upper portion of the housing 20. When clamp screw 40is tightened the clamp plate 36 is urged toward the opposing walls ofthe slot 32 thus enabling the file 16 to be securely clamped in slot 32when required.

In similar manner, the transverse slot 34 is provided with an elongatedclamp plate 42 (FIGS. 5-8). Clamp plate 42 is provided with a downwardlydepending rigid web 44, the lower extremity of which abuts the end of aclamp screw 45 threaded through a nut 47 mounted in housing 20. Web 44also carries three integral sockets 46, 48, 50 for receiving guideorienting peas to be described hereafter. These sockets project throughface plate 30 via corresponding slots 46′, 48′, 50′ which thus allowfreedom of movement of clamp plate 42 and its web 44 as the clamp screw45 is tightened and loosened. In order to bias the clamp plate 42 towardthe clamp screw 45 and toward the open position at all times, a pair ofcoil compression springs 52. 54 are mounted in recess 52′, 54′ in web 44with the lower ends of these springs bearing against the web while theupper ends bear against respective abutments 52″, 54″ fixed to theinterior of the housing 20. Hence, when clamp screw 45 is tightened, theclamp plate 42 is urged upwardly into the slot 34 from the positionshown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8. Hence, a file disposedin slot 34 can be clamped securely therein in any desired orientation byvirtue of the action of clamp plate 42.

It is noted here that, in practice, only a single one of clamp screws 4045 is actually supplied with the tool. Depending on the operation beingcarried out, the file 16 is only located in one or other of the slots 32and 34 at any one time and hence the clamp screw is simply removed fromone location and threaded into the other location as required. Twoscrews 40, 45 one being in phantom, are shown here simply forconvenience of illustration.

Reference will now be had to the guide pegs which are used to establishbase edge and side edge bevel angles. The guide pegs 60 are shown inFIG. 16. The pegs 60 are of a sturdy long wearing material such as nylonand they have bifurcated ends adapted to snap-fit into the sockets 46,48, 50 described above such that in use their head portions bear againsta surface of the ski/snowboard. The effective heights of the pegs areselected in accordance with the dimensions of the guide, especially thedistance “d” (FIG. 7) between the socket pair 46, 48 and the socket 50.Pairs of equal length secondary pegs 60, e.g. pegs 60B or 60C are placedin sockets 46, 48. A longer primary peg 60A or a shorter primary peg 60Dor 60E is placed in socket 50. Hence, with the guide 10 in position andwith the selected pegs 60 contacting a surface of the ski/snowboard asdescribed hereafter, a desired angular orientation can be achieved toenable the desired edge bevel angle to be created. The lengthdifferences in the pegs may be in 1 mm increments and by properselection of pegs, a substantial variation in bevel angle for both sideedge and base edge work can be achieved. When not in use, the pegs 60are stored in sockets 61 located at opposing ends of the guide housing.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 14 illustrate base edge preparation. Here the file 16is inserted through slot 32 of the guide 10 and secured by clamp plate36 in any desired orientation from lengthwise of the guide (shown insolid lines) to transversely thereof (shown in dashed lines). Thesecondary pegs have been removed and stored and only a single primarypeg 60′ remains in socket 50. The biasing springs 52, 54 ensure that theclamp plate 42, web 44 and primary socket 50 and peg 60′ are in thecorrect “home” position to help ensure a consistent edge bevel angle. Byselecting the correct length of the primary peg 60′, the desired baseedge bevel angle “X”, (shown in exaggerated fashion in FIG. 10) can beachieved. The base edge preparation process is farther illustrated inFIG. 11 wherein the guide is shown here clamping a pair of files 16(e.g., a mill file and a fine whetstone) with the guide 10 being movedalong the edge of the ski/snowboard several times until the requireddegree of sharpening and correct base edge bevel angle have beenachieved.

Side edge preparation is illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 and 15. In thiscase, the file 16 is inserted through slot 34 of guide 10 and secured byclamp plate 42 in any desired orientation from lengthwise of the guideto transversely thereof. Both the secondary pegs 60 and primary peg 60′are positioned in their respective sockets 46, 48 and 50 (FIG. 15). Byselecting the correct relative lengths of the primary and secondary pegs60, the correct side edge bevel angle ‘Y’ (shown in exaggerated fashionin FIG. 13) can be achieved.

It should be realized that the entire side edge of the ski/snowboardi.e. both the metal edge and the remaining exposed side edge material ofthe ski/snowboard can be bevelled with the use of guide 10. To achievethis, the longest primary peg 60′ is used in combination with theshortest secondary pegs 60 (see FIG. 13). This provides a relativelylarge side edge bevel angle Y and enables the side edge board materialto be cut or bevelled alone or in concert with the metal side edge. Ashort section of a Pansar file can be used to advantage here.

In general, as regards the pegs 60 and depending on the position andlength of the pegs used, the same peg is able to produce two differentbevel angles (one side edge bevel angle and one base edge bevel angle).Also in the illustrated embodiment, the peg used to produce a certainside edge bevel angle can produce exactly half that bevel angle whenused to bevel the base edge, (e.g. the peg used to create a 1 degreeside edge bevel can also be used to create a ½ degree base edge bevel).This is but one illustration of the flexibility and versatility of thetool.

Because the filing/polishing/cutting device is clamped in positionwithin the guide body at the desired angular orientation by the clampplate, the file remains flat through its length. As a result the edgebevel angle achieved is more precise than can be achieved by bending thefile (see previously cited Nilsson et al) as a clamping screw tends todistort the underlying file teeth.

A substantial number of commercially available filing/polishing/cuttingdevices can be employed by the file guide. In other words, the sameguide can be used for honing, deburring and polishing as well as roughand smooth filing.

As noted above, two or more segments of files/polishing/cutting devicescan be clamped in the file guide at one time in order to perform morethan one operation in a single pass down the length of the ski/snowboardmetal edge (i.e. a segment of file cuts the edge while a segment ofwhetstone polishes the edge simultaneously). This includes the abilityto place a module combining two or more segments into the guide as asingle unit.

The file guide is designed so that the file for side edgesharpening/bevelling is not placed on the upper surface of an angularmember as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,020 to Stumpf. Rather it is clamped inthe guide body by means of the clamp plate, as described above. Byclamping the file in this way, a special chip receiving recess or slotis not necessary as there is a void under the file where metal filingscan escape from the file without the possibility of building-up andbecoming embedded in the plastic base of the ski/snowboard as is oftenthe case when using a file on a prior art guide member with or without achip receiving recess.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated by way of example. Those skilled in the art will realizethat various modifications and changes may be made while still remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence the invention is notto be limited to the embodiment as described but, rather, the inventionencompasses the fill range of equivalencies as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for the sharpening and/or bevelling ofeither a ski or a snowboard side edge or base edge, said apparatuscomprising a guide adapted to be held by a hand of a person using theguide and moved lengthwise along an edge portion of a ski or snowboardwhile in contact with a surface thereof, said guide including a clampfor securing a file in said guide at any one of a plurality of desiredangular positions relative to the lengthwise direction of movement ofthe guide during use such that a desired portion of the file length maymake contact with the edge portion of the ski or snowboard and/or theteeth on the file may be oriented at a desired angle to the lengthwisedirection of movement thus assisting in producing a consistent file cutand efficient edge sharpening or bevelling of the edges of the ski orsnowboard, said guide including elements to angularly orient the file ina plane transverse to said lengthwise direction when positioned at aside edge portion of a ski or snowboard to establish a desired side edgegeometry or bevel angle, said elements to angularly orient said fileincluding plural pegs of selected lengths removably positionable by theuser in a selected manner in said guide to engage a surface of the skior snowboard and to establish a selected angular orientation of saidguide and the file secured therein in said transverse plane relative tothe ski or snowboard.
 2. Apparatus for the sharpening and/or bevellingof either a ski or a snowboard side edge or base edge, said apparatuscomprising a guide adapted to be held by a hand of a person using theguide and moved lengthwise along an edge portion of a ski or snowboardwhile in contact with a surface thereof, said guide defining a pair ofslot-shaped passages therethrough generally at right angles to oneanother and each adapted to receive a file therein, each said passagehaving a clamp plate respectively associated therewith adapted toco-operate with a wall of the associated passage such that a file may beclamped in one passage or the other depending on whether side edge orbase edge sharpening and/or bevelling is selected and at any one of aplurality of desired angular positions of the file relative to thelengthwise direction of movement of the guide during use such that adesired portion of the file length may make contact with the edgeportion of the ski or snowboard and/or the teeth on the file may beoriented at a desired angle to the lengthwise direction of movement thusassisting in producing a consistent file cut and efficient edgesharpening or bevelling of the edges of the ski or snowboard. 3.Apparatus for the sharpening and/or bevelling of either a ski or asnowboard side edge or base edge, said apparatus comprising a guideadapted to be held by a hand of a person using the guide and movedlengthwise along an edge portion of a ski or snowboard while in contactwith a surface thereof, said guide including a clamping device forsecuring a file therein such that in use a desired portion of the filemay make contact with the edge portion of the ski or snowboard thuseffecting edge sharpening or bevelling, said guide including pluralinterchangeable elements of selected dimensions positionable by the userof the device in selected locations in said guide to engage a surface ofthe ski or snowboard and to establish a selected angular orientation ofsaid guide and the file in a plane transverse to said lengthwisedirection when positioned at the side or base edge portion of the ski orsnowboard to establish a desired edge geometry or bevel angle. 4.Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said clamping device enables saidfile to be secured in said guide in any one of a plurality of desiredangular positions relative to the lengthwise direction of movement ofthe guide during use to promote efficient edge sharpening and bevelling.5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said guide includes at leastone slot-shaped passage therethrough for receiving said file and saidclamping device comprises a clamp plate adapted to cooperate with a wallof said slot-shaped passage to secure the file between the clamp plateand the wall.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said guidedefines a pair of said slot-shaped passages generally at right angles toone another, each said passage having one said clamp plate respectivelyassociated therewith so that a file may be positioned in either one ofsaid passages depending on whether a side edge or a base edge is beingsharpened and/or bevelled.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 3 whereinsaid plural elements comprise pegs of predetermined lengths adapted toremovably fit into apertures in selected locations in said guide toestablish said selected angular orientation.